Swine Influenza (H1N1) is also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu, is an infection caused by any one of several types of swine influenza viruses. Swine influenza virus (SIV) or swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human flu, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human flu, it is called zoonotic swine flu.
Risk Factors
1. All children 6 months to 4 years (59 months) of age
2. All people 50 years of age and older
3. Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma) or cardiovascular (except isolated hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurological, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
4. People who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)
5. Women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season
6. Residents of nursing homes and other long-term-care facilities
7. Health-care professionals (doctors, nurses, health-care personnel treating patients)
8. People who are morbidly obese (BMI ≥40)
Symptoms
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to most influenza infections :
1. Fever (100 F or greater)
2. Cough
3. Nasal secretions
4. Fatigue
5. Headache
6. Fatigue
7. Sore throat
8. Rash, body aches,
9. Nausea, vomiting
10. Diarrhea
Diagnosis
Swine flu is presumptively diagnosed clinically by the patient's history of association with people known to have the disease and their symptoms listed above. Usually, a quick test (for example, nasopharyngeal swab sample) is done to see if the patient is infected with influenza A or B virus. Most of the tests can distinguish between A and B types. The test can be negative (no flu infection) or positive for type A and B. If the test is positive for type B, the flu is not likely to be swine flu. If it is positive for type A, the person could have a conventional flu strain or swine flu.
Treatment
1. The best treatment for influenza infections in humans is prevention by vaccination. (The first H1N1 vaccine released in early October 2009 was a nasal spray vaccine that was approved for use in healthy individuals ages 2-49 )
2. The injectable vaccine, made from killed H1N1, This vaccine was approved for use in ages 6 months to the elderly, including pregnant females.
3. The flu shot (vaccine) is made from killed virus particles so a person cannot get the flu from a flu shot. However, the nasal spray vaccine contains live virus that have been altered to hinder its ability to replicate in human tissue.
4. Two antiviral agents have been reported to help prevent or reduce the effects of swine flu. They are zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu), both of which are also used to prevent or reduce influenza A and B symptoms. These drugs should not be used indiscriminately, because viral resistance to them can and has occurred.
Prevention
1. Stay home if you're sick. If you do have swine flu (H1N1 flu), you can give it to others starting about 24 hours before you develop symptoms and ending about seven days later.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Use soap and water, or if they're unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Flu viruses can survive for two hours or longer on surfaces, such as doorknobs and countertops.
3. Contain your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. To avoid contaminating your hands, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the inner crook of your elbow.
4. Avoid contact. Stay away from crowds if possible. And if you're at high risk of complications from the flu — for example, you're younger than 5 or you're 65 or older, you're pregnant, or you have a chronic medical condition such as asthma — consider avoiding swine barns at seasonal fairs and elsewhere.
5. Reduce exposure within your household. If a member of your household has swine flu, designate only one household member to be responsible for the ill person's personal care.
Risk Factors
1. All children 6 months to 4 years (59 months) of age
2. All people 50 years of age and older
3. Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma) or cardiovascular (except isolated hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurological, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
4. People who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)
5. Women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season
6. Residents of nursing homes and other long-term-care facilities
7. Health-care professionals (doctors, nurses, health-care personnel treating patients)
8. People who are morbidly obese (BMI ≥40)
Symptoms
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to most influenza infections :
1. Fever (100 F or greater)
2. Cough
3. Nasal secretions
4. Fatigue
5. Headache
6. Fatigue
7. Sore throat
8. Rash, body aches,
9. Nausea, vomiting
10. Diarrhea
Diagnosis
Swine flu is presumptively diagnosed clinically by the patient's history of association with people known to have the disease and their symptoms listed above. Usually, a quick test (for example, nasopharyngeal swab sample) is done to see if the patient is infected with influenza A or B virus. Most of the tests can distinguish between A and B types. The test can be negative (no flu infection) or positive for type A and B. If the test is positive for type B, the flu is not likely to be swine flu. If it is positive for type A, the person could have a conventional flu strain or swine flu.
Treatment
1. The best treatment for influenza infections in humans is prevention by vaccination. (The first H1N1 vaccine released in early October 2009 was a nasal spray vaccine that was approved for use in healthy individuals ages 2-49 )
2. The injectable vaccine, made from killed H1N1, This vaccine was approved for use in ages 6 months to the elderly, including pregnant females.
3. The flu shot (vaccine) is made from killed virus particles so a person cannot get the flu from a flu shot. However, the nasal spray vaccine contains live virus that have been altered to hinder its ability to replicate in human tissue.
4. Two antiviral agents have been reported to help prevent or reduce the effects of swine flu. They are zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu), both of which are also used to prevent or reduce influenza A and B symptoms. These drugs should not be used indiscriminately, because viral resistance to them can and has occurred.
Prevention
1. Stay home if you're sick. If you do have swine flu (H1N1 flu), you can give it to others starting about 24 hours before you develop symptoms and ending about seven days later.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Use soap and water, or if they're unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Flu viruses can survive for two hours or longer on surfaces, such as doorknobs and countertops.
3. Contain your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. To avoid contaminating your hands, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the inner crook of your elbow.
4. Avoid contact. Stay away from crowds if possible. And if you're at high risk of complications from the flu — for example, you're younger than 5 or you're 65 or older, you're pregnant, or you have a chronic medical condition such as asthma — consider avoiding swine barns at seasonal fairs and elsewhere.
5. Reduce exposure within your household. If a member of your household has swine flu, designate only one household member to be responsible for the ill person's personal care.
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